11th Week in Ordinary Time 2026 - Wednesday - The prayer, fasting, and almsgiving of God's priestly people

 

At Sunday Mass, this last weekend, we read from the book of Exodus how God has formed his people into a kingdom of priests—a royal priesthood. Being the people God made us to be involves a priestly dimension. All of us, all of the baptized have priestly duties.

In his recent catechesis on the documents of Vatican II, Pope Leo talks about this priestly dimension of our lives—he says, “we exercise our royal priesthood through prayer, asceticism and active charity, and by doing so, we bear witness to a life renewed by God’s grace.” Those three priestly activities should sound familiar, they are the three Lenten practices—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—which we all strive to engage in more perfectly during the Lent season.

In our Gospel reading today, we read of Jesus teaching about these three priestly duties—a Gospel which we read on the first day of Lent every year—on Ash Wednesday. He says, “when you pray”, “when you fast”, “when you give alms”. His disciples are expected to engage in these activities not just during the season of Lent, but always. They are part of the ordinary priestly duties of the baptized.

The Lord doesn’t just tell explain THAT we are to engage in these duties, but HOW we are to engage in them: “when you pray, when you fast, when you give alms” don’t do so that others may see you, or to win the praise of others. Our intention for our priestly duties mustn’t be for worldly attention, rather, as Pope Leo explained, echoing the sentiments of Our Blessed Lord, “we exercise our royal priesthood through prayer, asceticism and active charity, and by doing so, we bear witness to a life renewed by God’s grace.”

Our intention must be to bear witness to God, to show others that the relationship with God transforms human life, renews us. Prayer directed to God, renews us, it is a sipping of the fountain of eternal life. Fasting renews us, for it is restraining the bodily appetites in order to focus on what truly matters—for man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. And almsgiving, charitable work, renews us, because it is a participation in the life of God who is love—and that participation transforms us like gold in a furnace.

The priestly dimension of our Christian life is not simply a sacrifice to detracts from us—giving of our time and effort in order to pray, in order to fast, in order to give alms enables us to share in the very life of God.

May we engage in them more fervently, more seriously, but also in great joy, bearing witness to God for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

As God’s royal priesthood, we intercede for the needs of the world and the needs of the Church.

For Pope Leo, our bishops, priests, and deacons: that their ministry may strengthen the faithful to live their baptismal dignity with renewed fervor and joy.

For all Christians: that we may pray not for human praise, but from a sincere desire for communion with God.

That through fasting and asceticism, we may discover the freedom of living by the word of God.

For the poor, the lonely, the sick, and all who depend upon the charity of others: that the almsgiving and active love of Christians may reveal to them the tenderness of God. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our young people on summer vacation and those attending our Vacation Bible School this week: that they may be blessed with faith-filled homes, and protected from all physical and spiritual harm.

For the faithful departed: that, purified of every sin, they may share forever in the life and love of God.

Heavenly Father, you have made us your holy people through Baptism and called us to bear witness to your grace in the world. Hear the prayers we offer today, and strengthen us to live our priestly calling with sincerity, humility, and joy. Through Christ our Lord.

8th Week of Ordinary Time - Tuesday - "Give up Everything"

 Depending on the year, the 8th Week of Ordinary Time sometimes falls before Lent. So every few years we would be hearing today’s readings on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. We’d be thinking of the types of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we’d be engaging in over the Lenten season. We might be removing the chocolate and the candy from our kitchens in order to remove temptation. We might be having one last punchki. 

And today’s readings would be a perfect preparation for Ash Wednesday. Hearing the Lord in the Gospel calling his disciples to “give up everything” and follow Him would challenge us to “give up everything” that keeps us from the holiness God is calling each of us to.

But even though we are on the other side of Lent, the call to holiness remains; the call to pray, fast, and give alms, isn’t just for Lent. As I’ve said before, there was an order of monks who took as the motto of their order, “Semper Quadragesima” always Lent to remind the Church, that those spiritual practices are indispensable, whether during Lent, or Easter, or Ordinary Time. 

The call to holiness echoes always. It's truly universal, not just for a season, but for the whole of life. And it is up to us to respond to the invitation: to allow the Holy Spirit every day to reveal those worldly attachments we need to fast from; to allow the Holy Spirit every day to the prayer that will nourish us, particularly meditation upon the Sacred Scriptures; to allow the Holy Spirit every day to help us to be attentive to the needs of the poor and inspire us to the works of charity. Detachment is necessary for Ordinary Time--an ordinary practice for every ordinary Christian.

If tomorrow WERE Ash Wednesday, what’s the one thing God would be urging you to do or to give up? And really, shouldn't we always be vigilant in "giving up everything" in order to follow who he gave everything for us?

May we respond generously this day and all days to the call to holiness, the call away from self-centeredness, to the ways the Spirit wishes to bear ever-more abundant spiritual fruits in us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Christians may respond generously to the perpetual call to prayer, fasting, and works of charity. 

For the Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of May that the lay-faithful may fulfill their specific mission, by responding with creativity to the challenges that face the world today.

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept safe from the errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer and acts of mercy.

That protection for the unborn child may be enshrined in the laws of every nation and in every human heart.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

11th Week of Ordinary Time 2021 - Wednesday - Year-round Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving

 Today’s Gospel Reading should be familiar to us; we hear it at least twice a year, most notably on Ash Wednesday, at the beginning of the penitential season of Lent.

In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord teaches his disciples about some important practices that are to mark their spiritual lives: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These penitential practices are to be part of the ordinary life of the Christian. We aren’t to pray, fast, and give alms just during Lent, but all year round. 

Why? Why does the Lord introduce these practices in his great Sermon? His mention of these practices immediately follows his teaching on holiness. Remember, the holiness of his disciples is to surpass that of the scribes and the pharisees. His disciples aren’t merely to avoid the sins that are prohibited by the 10 commandments: even the scribes and pharisees did that. Rather, his disciples are to seek an inner transformation of mind and heart so that the very life of God fills us and flows from us.

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the prescribed medicines to bring about this transformation, they are the exercise routine, they are the activities which will open up the floodgates of grace within us. 

Certainly, the Scribes and Pharisees also engaged in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, so even the way Christians do these things are going to be different too. The Lord does simply teach THAT we are to do them, but HOW we are to do them.  Our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving is to be marked by humility, not for show, but in a hidden way—humbly trusting that they are pleasing to God. Humility, poverty of spirit, like that prescribed by the first beatitude at the beginning of his sermon, will bring about the inner transformation.

I know a lot of people who don’t like lent. They don’t like the extra effort demanded by the penitential practices. Yet, consider the call to the penitential practices in light of the words of St. Paul today: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

We are to engage in these practices cheerfully, eagerly, trusting that what we give to God change us for the better. The person who fasts sparingly will gain little. But the person who fasts cheerfully, eagerly, generously, will reap a bounty in their spiritual life and for the good of the church. There is a spiritual economy at work, to which we can only benefit when we contribute generously.

As part of your ordinary time, ordinary spiritual retinue, ensure you’ve factored in these penitential practices prescribed by the Lord for the transformation of your hearts, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the bishops of the Church will act as true prophets through their faithful teaching, their courageous witness, and their self-sacrificing love. We pray to the Lord.

That government leaders around the world may carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for freedom and the dignity of human life.  We pray to the Lord.

For the Church’s missions amongst the poor and unevangelized throughout the world, that the work of Christ may be carried out with truth and love. We pray to the Lord.

For the grace to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, to love our neighbors and enemies and those who persecute us, and to share the truth of the Gospel with all.  We pray to the Lord.

For all those who share in the sufferings of Christ—the sick, the sorrowful, and those who are afflicted or burdened in any way.  We pray to the Lord.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray to the Lord.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

27th Week in OT 2019 - Tuesday - Ordinary Spiritual Growth

Every year we hear this passage from the prophet Jonah on the first week of Lent, 7 days after Ash Wednesday.  It’s one of the most dramatic responses to the call to repentance in the entire old testament: a city of about 120,000 people all come to repent the nobility, the peasantry, show signs of their repentance by fasting, covering themselves with sackcloth, and sitting in ashes.

We begin Lent on Ash Wednesday doing the exact same thing—with fasting and the imposition of ashes on our foreheads.  And throughout Lent we undertake practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—visible and external signs of our internal sorrow for our sins.

Repentance is a pre-requisite for new spiritual life.  Repentance seeks to end the cycle of sin by acknowledging it with heartfelt sorrow and firmly resolving to sin no more.  Repentance ends the illusion that independence from God and his commandments brings the fulfillment we long for.

I’ve spoken before of the order of monks who take as their motto: “Semper Quadragesima”— “Always Lent”.  They seek to live, all year round, in that penitential Lenten Spirit because it is so effective in disposing us to the new spiritual life God wants to bring forth in us. If we are not actively seeking to be free from selfishness and to grow in generosity and charity, then we are in trouble.

Penitential Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, are taken up, particularly during Lent, but they are meant to be part of our normal spiritual growth—our Ordinary Time spiritual growth.

In the Gospel, Jesus rebuked Martha for being anxious about many things and not focusing on the one thing that really matters, namely, Himself, his presence in her life.  So what are the modes of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that perhaps we need to commit to or recommit to, in order to be more centered on Christ, more serious about becoming liberated from selfishness.

Semper Quadragesima—always Lent.  May we be generous in surrendering all the different parts of our life to God’s transforming mercy, and allow God to reform, reshape, and renew us today and every day, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That hearing the call to repentance preached by the Church, all men may turn away from their sins to the mercy of Christ.

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

That our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering, may they come to know the healing and peace of Christ.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

11th Week in OT 2019 - Wednesday - Always Lent

Today’s Gospel Reading should be familiar to us; we hear it at least twice a year, most notably on Ash Wednesday, at the beginning of the penitential season of Lent.

We reflect upon this precept to pray, fast, and give alms, not just at the beginning of Lent, but also during Ordinary Time, because these penitential practices are to be part of the ordinary life of the Christian. We aren’t to pray, fast, and give alms just during Lent, but all year round.

There was an order of monks who lived by the phrase: “Semper Quadragesima”, which means, Always Lent.  They tried always live in that penitential Lenten Spirit always. Because remember, during Lent we strip away the non-essentials to get back to the basics of Christianity, the fundamental Christian practices which nourish the spiritual life. And prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are among those essentials: we will never experience true spiritual growth without them.

Well, in this passage from the Lord’s great Sermon on the Mount, Our Lord teaches us, not just that we are to pray, fast, and give alms, but how we are to pray, fast, and give alms. His concern is not just that we perform them, but the motive and manner in which they do them. 

And His overarching warning is not to do them in order to be noticed by others. To do them in a humble, hidden manner. Yes, we come together to pray publicly, at mass, rosary, novena. But that hidden prayer is so vital. Our generosity to the public almsgiving during the Sunday Offertory is important, but the little hidden acts of giving are powerful and needed.

So if today were the first day of Lent again, what would be some behaviors or activities or pleasures that I endeavor to fast from? What kind of fasting should I be doing all the time—year-round? Is there at least one moment in my day set aside to turn to the Lord in quiet prayer? And what can I do to give of more of my time, talent, and treasure to the needy and in service to the Church.

May our year-round prayer, fasting, and almsgiving be always done with a pure heart out of love for God, the pure motive of helping those in need without being noticed, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians will commit to fervent prayer so as to grow in greater love and holiness.  We pray to the Lord.

For the faithfulness to fasting and to all the ways that the Lord wishes to sanctify us.  We pray to the Lord.

For greater generosity for the needs of the poor, the hungry, the homeless, those who are sick, unemployed, or suffering from addiction, mental, or physical illness, and those most in need: that the Lord in his goodness will be close to them in their trials.  We pray to the Lord.

That the Lord will rescue all those who live at a distance from Him because of self-absorption or sin.  We pray to the Lord.

For all those who have died, for all the poor souls in purgatory, for those who have fought and died for our country’s freedom.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

8th Week of OT 2018 - Tuesday - Holiness isn't just for Lent

Depending on the year, the 8th Week of Ordinary Time sometimes falls before Lent. So every few years we would be hearing today’s readings on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. We’d be thinking of the types of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we’d be engaging in over the Lenten season. We might be removing the chocolate and the candy from our kitchens in order to remove temptation. We might be having one last punchki.

And today’s readings would be a perfect preparation for Ash Wednesday. St. Peter: calling the Church to be holy as God is holy. Calling us to listen to the prophets who “testified in advance” to the sufferings of Christ. Hearing the Lord in the Gospel calling his disciples to “give up everything” and follow Him. These readings would remind us to make sure during Lent to strive for holiness, to listen attentively and reflect often of the scriptures in the Old Testament that point to the suffering of the Messiah, and to “give up everything” that keeps us from the holiness God is calling each of us to.

Thank goodness that Lent is over and we don’t have to do any of that, right? Well, no. The call to holiness, the call to pray, fast, and give alms, isn’t just for Lent. As I’ve said before, there was an order of monks who took as the motto of their order, “Semper Quadragesima” always Lent to remind the Church, that those spiritual practices are indispensable, whether during Lent, or Easter, or Ordinary Time.

The call to holiness echoes always. It's truly universal, not just for a season, but for the whole of life. And it is up to us to respond to the invitation. To allow the Holy Spirit every day to reveal those worldly attachments we need to fast from. To allow the Holy Spirit every day to the prayer that will nourish us, particularly meditation upon the Sacred Scriptures. To allow the Holy Spirit every day to help us to be attentive to the needs of the poor and inspire us to the works of charity.

May we respond generously this day and all days to the call to holiness, the call away from self-centeredness, to the ways the Spirit wishes to bear ever-more abundant spiritual fruits in us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Christians may respond generously to the perpetual call to prayer, fasting, and works of charity.

For the Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of May that the lay-faithful may fulfill their
specific mission, by responding with creativity to the challenges that face the world today.

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept safe from the errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer and acts of mercy.

That protection for the unborn child may be enshrined in the laws of every nation and in every human heart.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

June 21, 2017 - St. Aloysius Gonzaga - Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving bring purity of heart

The Gospel Reading is familiar to us; we hear it at least twice a year, most notably on Ash Wednesday, at the beginning of the penitential season of Lent.

And we hear in this Gospel about the three penitential practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. To the Jews of Jesus’ day, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving were very important spiritual practices.  In this teaching, Jesus is clear that his disciples are to continue to engage in these practices. These practices help us to detached from the things of the world, in order to focus on the one thing that really matters.
There was an order of monks who lived by the phrase: “Semper Quadragesima”, which means,
Always Lent.  They tried always to live in that penitential Lenten Spirit because it is so effective at guiding us away from selfishness to become truly generous and full of God's spirit.

These practices help us to obtain that purity of heart, which Jesus calls for in the beatitudes.
St. Francis of Assisi says, “A man is truly pure of heart when he has no time for the things of this world, but is always searching for the things of heaven”

The Saint we honor today, Aloysius Gonzaga, was especially noted for his purity of heart. By age 11 he was teaching catechism to poor children and fasting three day a week and practicing great austerities. After reading a book about Jesuit missionaries in India, Aloysius announced his desire to be a priest in the Society of Jesus, though it took four years for him to obtain permission from his father, who had more worldly dreams for his son.

And upon entering the Jesuits, his sanctity was truly evident, and he would enter into ecstatic prayer not only in chapel, but sometimes at meals and recreation periods. His love for God prompted him, also to serve the sick and needy. He sought the face of the Lord always. And that is the great promise Jesus makes in the beatitudes: blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.

Prayer, fasting, giving alms are so powerful, they purify us from earthly cares, they open a window into heaven.

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, have been taken up as concrete spiritual disciples since the beginning of the Church. And the saints remind us that through them we can achieve the sanctity God desires for each of us.

May our year-round prayer, fasting, and almsgiving bring us great purity of heart that we may radiate the light and love of Jesus for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians will recommit themselves to fervent prayer as to grow in greater love and holiness.

That we may fast often from the things of the world, in order to seek and value the things of heaven.

That the Church may commit to almsgiving and acts of charity in order to care for the needs of the poor and store up treasure in heaven.

Through the intercession of St Aloysius Gonzaga, patron of young people, that the young may be blessed with true faith, the desire to serve the Lord above seeking the pleasures of the world, and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, especially Fr. John Jenkins, who died this week, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.